Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-05-05

alters IN the old fashioned cotillion
or quadrille, and have more genuine
pleasure and enjoyment than at
hundred hops or balls. Society at
that day was characterized by sim
plicity that certainly would put TO
blush the strained efforts of TO- day.
In the fashionable society of our
time there is too much that is forthy
and superficial. There seems to be
a lack Of those high and heaven-born
elements of truth and sincerity, with
out which society can never be what
it was designed to be.
The standard planted by the loyal
hands of our grandparents, from
(which waved the snowy banner OF
truth, fidelity, purity and faith, has
been supplanted by one emblazoned
with scarlet and purple, bearing on
its gaudy folds emblems of notoriety
ana admiration. hiodesty is the
brightest jewel set in the circlet of
society, and yet the tendency of the
present age is too much inclined to
ignore 1t altogether. At all of our
society assemblages, each lady's name
Is heralded all over the country, in
the newspapers, with description of
her toilet, whether decolette or high
neck; whether train or dressing
length; whether moire or surrah,
with an enumeration and description
of her jewels, supplemented with
glowing comments on her beauty and
taste. What Is the consequence?
Those ladies whose finances will not
allow them to indulge III satins, vel
velts and jewels, must remain at
home, and like poor Cinderella, lament
and wonder why they can't dress like
other girls. Many of them are the
brightest stars in the galaxy of liter
ary and social culture, and would
dispense halo of refinement on any
assemblage, and vastly contribute to
the enjoyment and ediication of
those present.
Many young ladies seem to luxuri-
ate ON the streams Of admiration and
fattery that are poured into their
willing ears; bat alas! those streams
will ere long become stagnant pools,
exhaIing weariness and discomfort.
Let the young ladies' of this era SUBJ
sist on something more substantial.
Let their ambition be for truth, pur-
ity and honor, rather for admiration
and notoriety.
Under the present regime, a fine
house and plethoric purse are pass
ports to society, regardless of moral
worth and intellectual endowments.
Judging from long experience and
close observation, I can truthfully
say, there is more hypocrisy and
deception in the so-caled fashionable
circles of society, than in all the po-
litical csucusis and conventions In
the land
Our young ladies should be taught
to shrink with innate modesty from
anything calculated to attract atten-
ton, and to abhor notoriety as coarse
and vulgar.
During the collegiate career of
young.ladies they are in some schools
too frequently subjected TO the gaze
and criticisms Of public assembages.
The studied exhibitions of their
scholastic attainments in sciences
and arts, to the admiration of the
many and the criticisms of the few,
is often thought to be necessary as
an incentive to study and application.
I have seen classes Of young la
dies (the writer among them) stimu-
lated from year to year by the ever
present thought of grand display at
the coming exhibition. The flower
wreathed stage, the grand concourse
of people, the graduating trosseau.
the showers of bouquets, etc., kept
every emotion alive with false sm-
bition. Those grand gifts of honor,
truth and faith lose their value in
their eyes, because because from
their nature they cannot be displayed.
A young lady with the various
graces of mind and heart-her spir-
it adorned with all the lasting charms
which wise culture imparts-will
shrink with instructive modesty from
the rude gaze and empty applause
which greets each display. Neither
knowledge nor ignorance can be con-
cealed. The beautiful flowers which
boom and exhale their sweet aroma
in the beautiful gardens of this coun-
try, are much more fresh and sweet
than when exhibited in the market
places.
The sparkle OF the diamond does
not gather its beauty or brilllancy
from the coronet from which it emits
effulgence. The merest paste imita-
tions may be made to sparkle and de-
ceive, but ere long they will be cast
aside as worthless.
! 7 cannot close this article without
referring to class Of people that IN
fest almost every town, and in the ab-
sence of a better name, will denomi-
nate them ''they sayers." They
prowl around like midnight denizens
of the forest, seeking whose fair name
they may devour. They are mid
uipht assassius of reputation, whose